Play Book Tag discussion

CROSS-posted to FALL FLURRY of Holidays Challenge


There There – Tommy Orange
Audiobook performed by Darrell Dennis, Shawn Taylor-Corbett, Alma Cuervo and Kyla Garcia.
4****

In his debut novel, Orange explores the world of today’s Urban Indian; people who may be registered with a tribe in Oklahoma or New Mexico, while living in Oakland California. These are people who struggle with the issues of the urban poor, while also trying to work against stereotype, and still connect with and celebrate their native culture.

Orange tells the story through the lives of a dozen different characters, all of whom are going to attend the Big Oakland Powwow. Some struggle with substance abuse and/or alcoholism. Others have issues of abandonment. Some have embraced their heritage despite little or no support from family. Others have turned from a culture they feel has failed them. Their lives are interwoven by coincidence, thin threads of DNA, circumstance, proximity and/or their shared desire to attend the powwow. They are in turn angry, desolate, hopeful, joyous, loving, confused, determined, generous or mean.

I did feel somewhat confused by the work, mostly due to the many characters and the constantly shifting point of view. Still, Orange’s voice is unique and powerful. And I look forward to reading more from him in the future.

The audiobook is performed by four talented voice artists: Darrell Dennis, Shawn Taylor-Corbett, Alma Cuervo, and Kayla Garcia. I don’t really know which performer handled which chapters, other than matching the narrator’s gender to the character’s voice. Despite the stellar job done by all of them, I think I may have enjoyed this more had I read the text rather than listened to the audio.



LINK to my review

I appreciate your review and you seem to have got the essence of the book despite having listened to it.

I read it and I'm glad I did. The one deficit you nailed is the many characters.

Succumbed. Bought it. So much for intentions to work through the pile before I bought anything new. Dang.

Every month I restart the "buy no books, read your tbr" and every month I break the rule.... but in December definitely no new books!

Ha, I love that I'm not the only one trying to avoid buying more books. 2 years ago I made a "Library card, not credit card" resolution, and I spent a lot less money.

This book had a long wait list at the library but I've finally got it, along with other new books. I'm part Native American (but I didn't find out until I was older) so I'm really interested in this book.